r/dannydefeatthathoe via Reddit.com
It’s (almost) the end of the line for Red No. 3, the synthetic dye that has added a vibrant pop of color to candies, cakes, and even some medications for decades. Long criticized for its potential health risks, including links to cancer and behavioral issues in children, the dye is finally being phased out in the United States.
Here are some of the most popular foods impacted by the ban.
If you grab these bad boys in the gas station because you think it’s a healthier alternative to chips or candy, just know the room temperature, plastic wrapped meat and cheese sticks are the color they are thanks to Red 3.
Not our beloved ice cream truck treat! Thankfully Red 3 has nothing to do with how delicious these bars are, and guess what, Good Humor? We don’t care if they’re not the perfect shade of pinkish red, we just want that delicious strawberry shortcake taste in frozen format.
Imagine if banning Red 3 put the nail in Brach’s candy corn’s coffin. Alas, the brand will undoubtedly change the way its polarizing candy gets its orange hue, and the triangular edible chalk will live on. Candy corn isn’t the only Brach’s candy that has to recalibrate — Conversation Hearts contain Red 3 too.
While the powder version of Nesquik’s strawberry milk is naturally dyed, the already-made refrigerated milk contains Red 3 to give it its pink color. The brand’s strawberry syrup, on the other hand, is made with Red 40.
The beloved dispensable Pez candies contain the dreaded Red 3, and will have to get a mix-up of their ingredients to achieve their fun shades of pink, red, and orange.
One of the most obnoxious things about pesky red dyes is that they pop up in things that aren’t even red or pink. Case in point: Vigo’s yellow rice. It owes part of its vibrant yellow hue to Red 3, so expect this mustard-yellow rice to appear a little paler once the brand follows through with the ban.
Remember when we said that Red 3 can hide in unsuspecting things? Enter: Suddenly Pasta Salad. Particularly, this dye is found in the little imitation bacon bits included in the Ranch & Bacon variety.
As we learned from Suddenly Pasta Salad, those fake-on bits require Red 3 to effectively imitate pieces of bacon.
Red No. 3, also known as FD&C Red No. 3, has been under scrutiny for decades due to health concerns. The synthetic dye, used widely in candies, baked goods, frostings, and some medications, was linked to cancer in lab rats during studies conducted in the 1980s. In response, the FDA banned its use in cosmetics and topical medications in 1990 but allowed it to remain in food and ingested drugs.
The dye has also been associated with potential behavioral issues in children, fueling further criticism. Many countries, including those in the European Union, New Zealand, and Australia, have prohibited its use in food, citing these risks. Now, the FDA is following suit for the U.S.
The FDA’s ban on Red No. 3 officially took effect on January 15, 2025, but manufacturers have been given a grace period to comply. Food producers have until January 15, 2027, to reformulate their products without the dye, while drug manufacturers have an additional year, until January 15, 2028.
During this transitional period, products containing Red No. 3 will still be available on shelves, meaning consumers may continue to encounter the dye in many popular items, well beyond what we’ve mentioned above. With over 9,200 products reportedly containing the dye, this extended timeline gives manufacturers time to identify and transition to alternative coloring solutions.
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